Türkiye advances in long-range air defence with SİPER system’s 180 km capability PHOTO

Turkish National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler provided an update on the SİPER air defence system, developed by ASELSAN and ROKETSAN, highlighting its significant capabilities. 

As reported by Defence Türk on social media, Güler shared insights into Türkiye's ongoing advancements in air defence technology, per Caliber.Az.

🔴🇹🇷SİPER hava savunma sisteminde 180 km menzil hedefi

🔸Milli Savunma Bakanı Yaşar Güler: "SİPER Ürün-1 üretildi ve envantere girdi. SİPER Ürün-2 150 kilometre ve SİPER Ürün-3 de 180 kilometre menzile sahip olacak. Şu anda üretimle ilgili çalışmaları devam ediyor."… pic.twitter.com/BpdgDXuwWy

— Defence Turk (@Defence_Turk) November 26, 2024

Regarding the SİPER SAM and the Steel Dome air defence system, Güler explained that the full integration of the systems has not yet been completed. The Steel Dome air defence system consists of 4-5 distinct systems, including the HİSAR O and HİSAR A complexes, the SİPER system, and the KORKUT short-range SAM system. When combined, these components form a unified air defence network, and Güler emphasized that multiple Steel Dome systems will be required to protect the country effectively, with production already underway.

Güler went on to explain the specific progress of the SİPER SAM system, revealing that SIPER Block-1, with a range of 100 kilometres, has already been produced and adopted. SİPER Block-2 will extend its range to 150 kilometres, while SİPER Block-3 will achieve a range of 180 kilometres. The production work for these enhanced systems is currently in progress.

The SİPER system, a long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) defence system, is designed to protect critical national infrastructure from various aerial threats, including aircraft, missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. The system can engage targets at altitudes of up to 30 kilometres and beyond. Turkish defence experts have noted that SİPER will be a formidable competitor to the US Patriot system, which Türkiye was unable to procure due to a refusal by the US Congress to sell the system.

The first successful test of SİPER Block-1 occurred in December 2022 at the Sinop range, where it demonstrated its ability to detect, track, and engage a high-speed aircraft target at a range exceeding 100 kilometres. SİPER completed its final test on May 13, 2023, successfully engaging a long-range target.

The SİPER SAM project, launched in 2018, was developed through collaboration among Turkish defence companies Roketsan, ASELSAN, and the Tübitak Sage Research Institute, which contributed to missile warheads and targeting systems. The development of long-range SAMs like SİPER reflects Türkiye's growing defence capabilities and the success of its domestic defence industry, which continues to push the boundaries of missile range and speed, including potential interception of hypersonic targets.

By Tamilla Hasanova